Acetylene-gas generator.



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mm! I "II, y i I l PH 20.. WASHINGTON D c M. G. BUNNBLL. ACETYLENE GASGENERATOR. APPLIGAT'ION FILED MAR. 24, 1905.

1,073,070, I Patented Sept.9,1913.

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M. G. BUNNELL. AGBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR;

APPLICATION FILED-MAE. 24, 1906. 1,073,070. Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

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UNITED STATES rArENr oEEIcE.

MORTON G. BU NELL, E ciIIoAGo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MULLOYAC'ETYLENE GAs PLANT AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, LIMITED, OE oIIIcAGo,ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

ACE'I'YLENE-G-AS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Application filed. March 24, 1905. Serial No. 25].,740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTON G. BUNNELL,

- a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago,Cook county, Illition.

My invention relates to machines for generating acetylene. l

Generally stated, the bject of my invention is the provision of animproved, simple and highlyeflicient machine for generating acetylene. y

A spec al 0b ect of my inventlon is to provide improved means forautomatlcally feeding the carbid into the water of V the generator.

Another object is to provide improved means for automatically ventinpractically.

the entire gas space or area of t e generator to the atmosphere when itis desired to recharge the hopper or receptacle with carbid. A furtherobject is to provide improved means for automatically venting the gasspace immediately above the water to the atmosphere,-that is to say,automatically admitting air to the space immediately above the water,when the latter is drawn off by Opening the draw-off valve at the bottomof the generator. I

Another object is to provide improved means whereby the draw-off valvefor drawing Off the water and residuum cannot be opened without openingthe valve controlling the communication between the blow- Oif or ventingpipe and the space immediately above the water, but whereby the saiddraw-Off valve can then be closed without closing the said ventingvalve.

A further object is the provision. of improved means for equalizing thegas pressure, both below and above the supply of carbid, so as toprevent the gradual fall of the carbid from forming a vacuum immediatelyabove it, and so as to thereby insure certainty of action with respectto the means for feeding the carbid downwardly into the water.

of gas to the air space just above the lower body of water in thegasometer machine.

It is also an object, of course, to provide certain details and featuresof improvement and combinations tending to increase the generalefficiency and serviceability of an acetylene gas generator of thisparticular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of agenerating machine or apparatus embodying the principles of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of anotherside of the generator. Fig. 4 is a section 011 line 44 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5is a section on line 5-5 in Fig. A. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the lockdevice by means of which the valve for venting the entire gas space tothe atmosphere is enabled to lock the charging-inclosure of the carbidreceptacle against being opened until after the valve is opened. Fig. 7is a section on line 7-7 in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 shows the escapement devicefor operating the rotary feed.

As thus illustrated, my improved generating apparatus comprises agenerator A and a gasometer or gas receptacle B. The said generatorcomprises an upright tank a provided with a frusto-conical and upwardlytapered bottom a and a top wall a At its center, the said bottom wall isprovided with a stuffing-box a through which extends the vertical shaft(4*. At its upper end, the said shaft is provided with a screen or sievea provided at its center with a conical spreader a, and at its lowerportion, the said shaft is provided with the scrapers or agitatorarms athe latter being adapted to swing around close to the upper conicalsurface of the bottom wall (4 A hand-crank a is connected by bevel gearsa with the lower end of the shaft 00*, to constitute the means forrotating the agitator-arms and the said screen or sieve. The hopper a isadapted to hold the carbid, and is preferably provided with an inclinedbottom a leading downwardly to a discharge opening a Said hopper is alsoprovided with a false bottom a, andwith a lower bottom wall a; and thislower bottom wall is provided ally with a stu fing-box e throug a whichextends the vertical shaft (4 At its upper end the said shaft isprovided with a rotary feed a", the latter comprising two concentricallyarranged flat rings a and a connected by radial partitions a It will beseen that these partitions 0 are con siderably less in height than thesaid concentric rings or inner and outer walls, and that they providethe rotary feed with a plurality of compartments. At one side of thehopper, the compartment in which the rotary feed is inolosed isconnected with the center of the generator chamber by means of a piped.The discharge opening a has a spout e which extends downwardly into therotary f'eed,that is, between the circular walls a and a. It will beseen that the discharge pipe or feed-tube a is adapted to discharge thecarbid onto the spreader a,

A horizontal shaft e is provided with a drum a adapted to receive a ropeor cord 0 having its end provided with a weight at. This shaft isconnected with the vertical shaft a by means of bevel gears a. Referringto Fig. 8, it will be seen that thi's'horizontal shaft is provided withan cscapement wheel a adapted tobe engaged by the escapement device ahaving an arm a. The weight a tends to rotate the drum, and thus tendsto rotate the rotary feed and anymeans for operating the escapementdevice will, therefore, effect an intermittent rotationof' the rotaryfeed for the purpose of feeding the carbid from the opening a to thefeed-pipe a. For example, the gasometer bell'b can be provided with aprojection adapted, when the bell falls, to engage the arm a Thus eachtime the gas in the gasometer falls to acertain degree of pressure, therotary feed a is automatically rotated one step by the actuation of theescapement device and the consequent downward movement of theweight atthe end of the cord.

In filling the generator, the water is poured into the intakes a but inwithdrawing the water, together with the residuum stirred up by theagitator arms a each time it is desired to clean or renovatethegenerator,it is withdrawn through the draw-off valve a. The gas escapesfromthe gas space immediately above the water in the generator throughthe pipe a and thence into the gasometer.

A blow-off pipe 0 is connected with the top of the receptacle by meansof a pipe 0 having a valve 0 This valve has, avalvehandle 0 adapted toengage one or the other of the grooves c in the top of the chargingincover 0 of the carbid receptacle. In this way, the charging-in of thecarbid at the top, of the receptacle cannot possibly be accomplishedwithout first opening the valve seen, prevents cloggingof r-that is,Without first throwing up the valve-handle 0 The pipe 0 is connected by,a pipe 0 with the gas-space a immediately above the water in thegenerator. This p1pe c is, provided with a normally closed valve 0havlng'a handle 0 As shown, this .handle is connected by means of a link0 with the handle a of the draw-off valve It will be seen, however, thatthe said link is provided with a slot 0 adaptedtoengage a pin 0 on thesaid handle 0 r This slot is so located and proportioned that thedraw-off valve cannotbe opened without openingthe valve 0, while, on theother hand, the said draw-off valve can then be closed without closingthe said ventilating valve 0.

A by-pass pipe 0 connects the pipes 0 and c, the point of connectionwith the pipe 0 j being below the valve o and the point of connectionwith the; pipe 0 being below can valve 0 Consequently, the entire gasspace of the generator is o-pe nedup or vented to the atmosphereas soonas the valve e is opened, that is, the entire generator is vented to theatmosphere when the carbid receptacle is recharged. Also the gas spaceimmediately above the water in the generator is vented to the atmosphereupon the opening of the draw-off valve a, so as to permit the water tobe drawn elf without leaving a vacuum immediately above it. Furthermore,the provision of the by-passpipe 0 equ-al'izes the gas pressure bothabove; and below the carbid, so that the latter can settle freelywithout leaving a vacuum above it.

'The spent a ispreferably oblong or semi-circular in plan, so that itextends some distance in the direction of rotation of the rotary feed.Preferably, the rear end of this spout is closed, as shown in thedrawings, and its forward end is open, so that the carbid has a freedischarge through the lower end of the spout, and also through its sideor forward end. This, it will be the carbid as it discharges from thehopper t0 the. rotary feed, and permits the latter to operate withcertainty and efliciency. Furthermore, it will be seen that the top wall(6 20f the generator effectually closes: or seals the top of thegenerating chamber, so that no gas can escape upwardly through this walland into the atmosphere; it being observed, in this 0 space of themachine, the pressure being equalized above and below the carbid, sothat the latter can always feed downwardly, with certainty. Again, thewater in the generator cannot be drawn off without venting the top ofthe generating chamber to the atmosphere,-that is to say, withoutestablishing communication between the top of the gen erator and theatmosphere,and thereby permitting the air to enter the top of thegenerating chamber when the water is drawn off and in this way, thedrawing off of the water does not subject the gasometer to suction, noris a similar efiect produced on any other parts of the apparatus as awhole. Furthermore, the draw-off valve can be closed without closing thevalve for automatically venting the generator to the atmosphere when thedraw-off valve is opened. Consequently, the top of the generator isalways in communication with the atmosphere when the water isreplenished, so that the air in the top of the generator is'driven outthrough the blow-pipe as the water rises. In each case, the venting ofthe machine to the atmosphere is strictly aut0matic,that is to say, theventing means are automatically operated when the draw-ofivalve isopened, and the venting is necessarily and directly accomplished in theremoval of the closure of the opening through which the carbid issupplied to the hopper. The escapement device is held in its normalposition by a spring X. Also,ras shown, the spreader a the screen aifandthe arm a are all connected by a sleeve Y, which latter is removablysecured upon the shaft a. With this arrangement, and when the escapementis actuated by the projection b the carbid falls into the water and afresh supply of gas is generated.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. An acetylene generator comprising a carbid receptacle, means forautomatically feeding the carbid into the water, means'for venting theentire gas space of the generator to the atmosphere, an opening forreplenishing the carbid, a closure for sealing said opening, andconnection between the closure and the venting means for insuring theoperation of the latter and the venting of the entire generator beforethe closure is removed, together with means independent of said ventingmeans, for carrying off the gas for use, said venting means beingconnected directly with the space above the carbid.

2. An acetylene generator comprising a carbid receptacle, means forautomatically feeding the carbid into the water, means including ablow-off pipe for necessarily vent ing the entire gas space to theatmosphere before opening the generator to recharge with carbid,together with means independent of said venting means, for carrying offthe gas for use, said venting means being connected directly with thespace above the carbid.

3. An acetylene generator comprising a passage for equalizing thegas-pressure above and below the carbid, and means for necessarilyventing the entire gas space to the atmosphere before opening thegenerator to recharge with carbid, together with a feed passage forfeeding the carbid intothe water.

4:. An acetylene generator comprising a passage for equalizing the gaspressure above and below the carbid, means for insuring a vent-ing ofthe entire generator to the atmosphere before opening the same forcharging with carbid, means independent of said passage, for carryingoff the gas for use, and a feed passage for feeding the carbid into thewater, open to the gas at its lower end.

5. An acetylene generator comprising a vent leading from the top of thegenerating chamber, a sealed opening for recharging the machine withcarbid, and means for necessarily opening said bent before unsealingsaidopening to introduce the fresh supply of carbid, together with meansindependent of said opening means, for necessarily venting the generatorchamber when the water is drawn off, the space above the water beingdirectly connected with the space above the carbid, whereby the pressureis equalized above and below the carbid. 6. An acetylene generatorcomprising a carbid receptacle connected to freely receive the gaspressure on top of the charge of carbid, means for insuring a venting ofthe entire generator to the atmosphere before opening the same forcharging with carbid, and means independent of said receptacle, forcarrying off the gas for use.

7 An acetylene generator comprising a draw-off, a venting device, and amechanical connection between the draw-ofi and the venting device,whereby the opening of the draw-off automatically opens the ventingdevice, together with a valve device for necessarily venting thegenerator before the same can be opened to introduce a fresh supply ofcarbid, and a pressure equalizing pipe always open and leading aroundthe carbid from the space above the same to the space above the water.

8. An acetylene generator comprising a device for feeding the carbid, adraw ofi valve, a venting valve, and a mechanical connection between thetwo valves, said connection serving to automatically open the ventingvalve when the draw-off is opened, but permitting a closing of thedraw-off without closing the vent, together with a valve device fornecessarily venting the generator before the same can be opened tointroduce a fresh supply of carbid, the said venting means including abypass or pressure-equalizing passage extending around saidcarbid-feeding means, and apressureequalizing pipe always open andleading around the carbid from the space above the same to the spaceabove the water.

9. An acetylene generator comprising a device for feeding the carbid, adraw-off, a vent, and connection between the same for automaticallyopening the vent when the draw-oif is opened, and for permitting aclosing of the draw-off without closing the vent, but preventing aclosing of the vent without closing the draw-off, together with a valvedevice for necessarily venting the generator before the same can beopened to introduce a fresh supply of carbid, the said venting meansincluding a by-pass'or pressure-equalizing passage extending around saidcarbid-feeding means, and a pressureequalizing pipe aways open andleading around the carbid from the space above the same to the spaceabove the water.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a generator comprising areceptacle adapted to contain a suitable body of water, intakes for thewater located on the sides of said receptacle and communicatinglaterally with the chamber for water at the bottom thereof, a top wallfor said receptacle extending across the latter and sealing the topthereof, a device for feeding the carbid into the water through said topwall, and means for conducting the gas from the sealed chamber existingbetween the top of the water and the under surface of said top wall,together with means for insuring a venting of the entire generator tothe atmosphere before opening the same for chargingin with carbid, thesaid venting means including a by-pass or pressure-equalizing passageextending around said carbid-feeding means.

11. I11 a machine of the class specified, the combination of automaticmeans for venting when the water is drawn off, means for equalizing thepressure above and below the carbid, and means for venting from aboveand below the carbid chamber before opening to recharge with carbid.

12. An acetylene generator comprising a tank, a carbid hopper on thetank, an automatic feed for delivering the carbid from I Imam the hopperto the tanl -La blow-pipe, a by pass pipe connecting the tank with thesaid blow-pipe, and with the top of the hopper, to equalize the pressureabove and below. the carbid, and a valve between the by -pass pipe andthe blow-pipe.

13. An acetylene generator comprising a tank, a carbid hopper, means fordelivering the carbid from the hopper to the tank, a by-pass pipeextending outside'of the hopper from the gas space at the top of thetank to the top of the hopper, to equalize the pressure above and belowthe carbid, a gasometer having a blow pipe, and a valved connectionbetween said by-pass and blow pipe.

14:. In an acetylene generator, a feed therefor, a by-pass extendingaround and outside of said feed to equalize thepressure above and belowthe carbid, as set forth, and meansfor venting the by-pass to theatmosphere.

15. In an acetylene generator, a by-pass for equalizing the pressureabove and below the carbid, a vent pipe, a valve controlling the ventingof gas from above and below the carbid through the by-pass and ventpipe, and means engaged by said valve to prevent improper removalthereof, as set forth. 7 7

16. In an acetylene'generator, a by-pass for equalizing the pressureabove and below the carbid, a vent pipe, a valve controlling the ventingof gas from below the carbid through the by-pass' and vent pipe, andmeans to prevent opening of the generator until after the valve isopened.

17. In an acetylene generator, a by-pass for equalizing the pressureabove and below the carbid, a vent pipe, a valve controlling the ventingof gas from below the 'carbid through the by-pass and vent pipe, and aclosure locked by said valve against opening to prevent recharging ofthe generator with carbid until after the valve is opened.

18. In an acetylene generator, a feed, a by-pass for equalizing thepressure above and below the feed, means for venting the generatorthrough the by-pass when the carbid is replenished, and means forotherwise venting the generator when the water is drawn oif.

19. In an acetylene generator, a suitable feed, a by-pass for'equalizingthe pressure above and below the feed, and. means in'clud ing agasometer blow pipe for venting the generator through the by-pass.

Signed by me at Chicago Ill. this 13 day of March 1905.

, MORTON G. BUNNELL.

IVitnesses':

JENNIE NORBY, SARAH Lewis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. GI" i

